Question

When you hyperventilate (breathe too fast), respiratory alkalosis (elevated blood ph) can occur, which can cause you to faint. a common but potentially dangerous method to reverse respiratory alkalosis is to hold a paper bag over your mouth and take normal breaths, thereby rebreathing the exhaled air. how might this method reverse respiratory alkalosis?

Answer 1

When you are hyperventilating, you are really taking in too much oxygen and the balance between O and CO2 is disrupted. By breathing in a paper bag, this can reverse respiratory alkalosis by allowing you to take back in your own carbon dioxide. Thus bringing down your elevated blood pH.